Method of generating steam.



H. I. LEA.V METHOD 0F GENERATING STEAM. APPLIUATIQN FILED JULY-20AM.

Patented July 9, 1912.

FIEE.

HENRY I. LEA, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSEGNQ. BY MESNE-ASS1GN- MENTS, TO THE COLONIAL TRUST COMPANY,

TRUSTEE, OF PITTSBURGH, PENN- SYLVANA, CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD OF GENERATINC- STEAM.

Specification of Letters latent. l

-, and useful Improvementin Methods of Generating Steam, of which the following is a specification.

rIhis invention relates to a method of gen erating steam.

The fact that steam is titten utilized for various purposes besides the direct produo tion of powerlias. to some extent; limited the introduction of gas producer plants and lgas engines in the place of steam plants and steam engines.

The object of this invention is the production of a method of conserving the theriiial energy of the exhaust gases of a producer plant and utilizing then'i in the production of steam. i

in the single sheet of drawing aecompanyingthis application, Figure l is a plan view of an assembled apparatus adapted to be utilized in performing the successive steps comprising the process embodied in this invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation or the apparatus shown' in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of a detail of the apparatus.

W'hile I do not wish to limit myself to the specific arrangement of the apparatus herein illustrated, `a ldet-:eriptioii of the drawings will be given in order that. a Clear understanding of the invention may be had.

A gas producer 3, which is provided with' a suitable tuel feeding device i, and w-hieli may be arranged to utilize the sensible heat of combustion in the gas generating ChaniherI in generating the steam for the operating blast, is connected with` a combined purifying apparatus 5, by a pipe G. Conneeted to the pipe 6 is a valvt-Ll pipe 7 which may be utilized as a slack in stai-ting the producer. Leading from the purifier 5 is a gas inain 8, to whieh is connected a brandh -pipe 9 provided with a suitable vvalve l0 supplying gas to the cylinders 1l of a gas engine 1Q. The exhaust passages of the gas engine are connected by a pipe Ai3 toa pipe li, which is provided with a suitable valve l5.- The pipe 14 is adapted t`o lead the exliaust gases from the engine cylinders Ainto a furnace lo which is arranged tosupplv heat to a tubular boiler 1T. The boiler 1T is provided with suitable stark 1S and a sat'etv valve 19. -i pipe 20, which provided with a valve il is also connected to the exhaust pipe i3 and when the valve l5 of the pipe l is Closedi and the valvel is open, it is utilized for carryingthe exhaust gases of the engine directly into' the atmosphere.

The furnace 1G is provided with a bridge wall 22 adjacent to and beyond which the pipel enters the furnace. A branch pipe 223 is connected to the main gas supply pipe 8 and introduces gas into the frontoi the furnace 1G. 'ii pipe Qs'is connected to un automatic regulating vaive ifi shown in sertion in Fig. 3. The valve 2i is provided with a valve chamber 25 to which isi-onneeted the pipe i3 and a pipe Q6, the pipe 26 connecting .vitll'i the furnace. disk 3l is niounted on a suitable rod and is adapted to vary the iow Qt' gas throu di the ohanibe" 25 tand therefore to the i'urnace) as boiler 17 rounding -the easing 30 ot' the valve, and'a disk QT mounted on the rod, tends to lioidthe valve disk in suc-li a position that a maximum tiow of gas iviil he maintained through the chamber 25. i v

.i piston mounted ou the rod 9S and operating in the eylinder S3, is arranged to vaiiAv the position of the valve disk 3l in aeeordanee with the amount of steam pres sure in the ste-ani boiler 15T. Leading troni the steam boiler and entering the cylinder 33, is a 4steaiii pipe 3i, so arranged that the pressure' in theboiler will be transmitted to the piston and tend .to niove the rod 2S in opposition tothe spring 29. l.

The operation of the apparatus is iis-teh lowsz- The gas generated in the producer 3 is cleaned in the purifier 5 and is admitted tu the eylinders ,ill of the gas engine through the branch pipe 9; the ainouiuof gas passing therethrough being controlled by the valve l0 or a suitably arranged governor valve, not shoiiui. -The exhaust roin the engine Cylinders 1l passes through the pipes 13 and A# and enters the furnace- 15, adja# cent to the erich wali'. For this arrange ateiitod July 9, liz- Appiieation ined I uiy 2o, 1995, ser-iai No. 279,447.

. vulve' 15. the pipe entrance .with the required amount of airtained adjacent through the tubes with which it is provided.4

To provide for such demands of steam that cannot be supplied by I the exhaust gases, gas from the producer is admitted through the front portion of the furnace 16, through 26. Any suitable gas burner may be utilized within the furnace and since'the gas enters'under pressure itfwill mix'at its for complete combustion; The flow of gas through the pipe 23,` as has been described,

1s controlled-by the automatic valve ,24 and varies inversely as the steam pressurelin the boiler varies and 'by this arrangement it- Will be Areadilyfseen that a desired pressure, Within` close limits, can be maintained in the boiler. Av suitable pilot light may be mainto the point Where the pipe l 2.6ventersthe'furnace for igniting the varyl nace lVith the dimplesthis patentl may te vobtained for tirelyl shuts' oli" the flow of gas to the furthe bridge wall,'the combustion ofthe gases entering through the pipe 26 is not impeded and as the gases resulting from this combustion approach the bridge Wally 22, they mix vvith'the exhaust gases from` the engine.

The economy offthis apparatus may be still further'increased by conducting the Water from the Water jackets of the gas engine cylinders into the boiler.

' Referring again Ato the figures: Cooling Water is introduced into of, gue cylinders 11 through is ischarged through the pipe 36, which connects' :with a hot Well 37.- The Water from the hot Well is pumped by a pump 38 into theboiler 17 through the pipe 39. The water jackets in vthis case act as a -feed water heater. By this arrangement the thermalvalue of the exhaust gases from the engine 'is taken advantage'of and 'the thermal energy' of the gases burned .under the boiler the pipe .35 and is eih'ciently'utilized; and with such an .ap-4 paratus the necessity of tiring with coal 0rv other solid fuelis overcome and the smoke nu1sance, 1s avoided and the expense of power,v` 'heating, etc. vare materially de' creasedfffy r Havlngnowdescribed my invention what it is apparexhaust gases from the en- `gine cylinder entering the furnace beyondhaust gases the Water jackets tive cents each, by addressing the Gc'mmisscner Washington, E.,

gine to the heat conserving' agent, a pri-` mary source of gas supply, heat delivery means incommunication with lthe primary source vof gas 'supply and the heat conservlmg agent, and means dependent upon the pressure generated -Within said agent for controlling the l flow of gas through said primary gas supply. I y

2. The combination with an internal combustion engine and a steam generator, of a source of heat supply for the steam genf erator comprising means for utilizing the sensible heat ofthe exhaust gases from said internal combustion engine for heating the steam generator, a source of fuel supply leading to the steam generator and means dependent upon the steam pressure in said steam generator for varying the amount of fuel from said-source of fuel supply. y

`3. The' combination, with an internal coml 'bustion engine of a heat conserving agent ingllovv vof gas, from the valve 24, or the disk 31 may beso arranged that it never enadaptedto convert heatenergy into pressure energy, aprimary source of heat supply for the heat conserving agent comprising means for deliveringthe sensible heat ofthe exconserving agent, a portionof the sensible' heat of the combustion taking place Within said engine, leading to said agent and means dependent upon the -pressure generator Within said agent for controlling the secondary supply.

4. The combination with a source of gasv om said engine ,to the heat a secondary source of supply supply, an 'internal combustion engine and a i steam boiler, of means for connecting the exhaust of the internal combustion engine Withthe steam boiler so as to utilize the sensible heat of the exhaustgas'es from said engine for a fuel supply independent of the exhaust from theiinternal cosmlmstio'n engine to sup-4 ply heat to said boiler, and a valve provided with a steam actuated plunger for cont-rolling the delivery of fuel from said independent supply in accordance with the pressure generated in said boiler.

In testimony whereof, I have'` hereunto subscribed my name this sixth day of July,

HENRY i. Las. Witnesses Devin lfrrrnralvrs, E. W. McCA'LLis'rnu.

ef Patents,

generating steam in said boiler, t 

